2.07.2005

Houston Astro Take

Sorry to all you readers who don't love baseball. I grew watching the Houston Astros and I hate all the negativity that the fans and baseball 'experts' have expressed about the team. The following is a post that I made in a Astros Fan Forum:Ok...

Oooook...

Take a breath Astro Fan...the world (and the season) is not over.I've been reading most everything on this forum since the Beltran mishap and decided to break my silence because I was sick of reading postings of the following:

WE LOST BELTRAN...WAAAAAAAAA
WE LOST KENT...WAAAAAAAA
WE DIDN'T MAKE ANY BIG MOVES...WAAAAAAA

How can so many of you lose hope after last years incredible ride? Houston is blessed with a great baseball team. I'll be the first to admit the Astros did not have a good off season. But we need to stop looking at what we DON'T have, and start focusing on what we DO have. Just listen to what we have going for us:

Future Hall-of-Famer Jeff Bagwell has dedicated his off-season to baseball and changing his approach to the plate. Do you honestly believe that Jeff Bagwell doesn't have one more solid year in him?

Last years Cy Young winner Roger Clemens has agreed to pitch for us again. One of the greatest pitchers of all time is at the top of our rotation. Andy Pettitte wants nothing more than to come back and pitch his best. He wants to make up for last year. And he will.

Brad Lidge is the greatest closer in the game. Forget Mariano. Forget Gagne. Lidge is a bonafide stud.

Lance Berkman is in a contract year and out to prove that he can carry a franchise (hopefully ours) on his back. Baseball has a long season...him being out a month is not a crisis.

Roy Oswalt is a great pitcher in the middle of his prime. He won 20 games last year and will win at least 20 more this year.

BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR BULLPEN? WAAAAAAA
BUT WHAT ABOUT OUR OUTFIELD? WAAAAAA

You may not remember, but the bullpen made huge strides in the playoffs last year. Dan Wheeler stepped it up and looked very comfortable in the set-up roll. Dan Qualls is a young guy who's starting to figure it out. Lidge can handle a heavy workload. Add a veteran or two to the final roster and the bullpen becomes respectable.

OPalm is not a great baseball player but we can compensate elsewhere. Where? How about 3rd? No one is talking about Morgan Ensberg. He had an off year last year but he's still capable of .280/30/95. What about Jason Lane? He's capable of the same numbers. What about Burke? What about Biggio? What about Lamb?

We have won without Beltan before. We will do it again. Besides...how much fun will it be watching Rocket put a 97mph fastball between his numbers? No reason to go on tilt and overpay a guy like Burnitz or give up talent on a Cruz Jr.

We are not in Toronto or Tampa Bay, people. Let's get excited about the Houston Astros and 2005.